Theodore Roosevelt
October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919
Terms in office: September 14, 1901 - March 4, 1909
Political Party: Republican
Vice Presidents: Charles Fairbanks (1905-1909)
Theodore Roosevelt was the twenty-sixth president of the United States, and first became president under unusual circumstances. Originally, he was the Vice-President to William McKinley, until McKinley was assassinated in 1901. Roosevelt immediately took an oath into office on September fourteenth of 1901; becoming the youngest president ever at forty-two. Theodore Roosevelt, nicknamed "Teddy," is most well-known for his "big stick" policy, conservative views, image on Mount Rushmore, and cowboy-like appearance. He knew how to appeal to the masses and believed the president should take whatever action necessary for the population unless forbidden by law or the constitution. Due to Roosevelt's role in expanding the federal government, conservation of the environment, development of the panama canal, regulation of large corporations, and expansion of the armed forces, he deserves a solid "A" as his grade for his terms in office.
While in presidency, Roosevelt's main goals included conserving the environment, and modernizing, expanding, and reforming the government. His ideas included representing the masses: farmers, laborers, and businessmen. Teddy wanted to regulate trusts and railroads, develop a canal across Central America,and conserve natural resources as much as possible. All of his main goals were accomplished up to a certain extent, and were accomplished benevolently, with the exception of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt represented "the people" by regulating trusts. Not only did he force railroad companies in the Northwest to break apart, but he also brought large corporations under regulation. He used the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 to his advantage and had forty anti-trust lawsuits under his name. However, one must not get confused, Roosevelt only sought to regulate large businesses, not dissolve them; in fact, he actually supported business. After the Spanish-American War, the need for a canal across South America was brought to Teddy's attention. Once Panama had been decided as the place of choice, the only problem was that Panama was controlled by Cuba- who was unwilling to part with the land unless given a hefty price. About a year and a half later Panamanians revolted against Cubans gaining their freedom and the U.S. quickly moved in to build the canal. While the canal was heavily beneficial, parts of Latin America looked down upon America claiming they "raped" Panama from Cuba. Roosevelt's largest goal was his role in conserving the environment. He passed several acts defending the environment and within eight years established an astonishing five national parks, and sixteen national monuments.
The relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and Congress was a rather good one; however, at times Congress felt that Roosevelt was attempting to put too much power into the executive branch. Teddy's interest in regulating the railroads caused some conflict in Congress when Roosevelt attempted to pass the Hepburn Act, proposing the enhancement of power in the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). By passing the Hepburn Act, it would allow the ICC to regulate the costs on shipping in railroads. Parts of congress attempted to use judicial review to make the ICC ineffective. When word got back to Roosevelt, he made a direct repeal by taking this issue to the people, and thus pressured the Senate into approving the act. In the end, the Hepburn Act aided in achieving Teddy's goal of regulating trusts and railroads. Congress and Roosevelt did agree though in passing acts relating to the food industry including the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.
Teddy Roosevelt's ability to handle and balance domestic and foreign affairs was his most positive trait and therefore, his most positive outcome. Domestically Theodore was able to establish the Bureau of Corporations, essentially watching any businesses engaged in interstate commerce; and relating the the bureau passed the Hepburn Act of 1906, which restricted bribery among the railroad corporations. He also accomplished two significant acts relating to the health of America including the Pure Food and Drug Act, preventing the mislabeling of foods and the Meat Inspection Act, which is rather self-explanatory but caused the inspection of the meat packing industry to make sure they met certain health codes. The most well known however, is perhaps the "Square Deal." It consisted of the "three C's": control of the corporations, consumer protection, and conservation of the Earth's natural resources. These domestic policies were accomplished all while Roosevelt was also handling foreign affairs. During the 1904 war between Japan and Russia, the two countries were fighting over land in Manchuria. Roosevelt acted as an arbitrator and concluded that the Japanese would receive no indemnity for any wartime losses and would also receive southern Sakhalin, an island off the coast of China. For his settlement of dispute between the two countries, Teddy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.
Roosevelt's role in foreign issues was also a negative aspect of his presidency. Although the Russia-Japan war was positive in the United States, it was negative in both Russia and Japan. Originally, Japan wanted payment for wartime losses, and once Roosevelt settled on giving them no indemnities, the Japanese became angered. Japan felt that America had robbed them of their compensation for the war. Russia then felt that America robbed them of a military victory and as a result, American foreign relations dwindled. Relations with other countries also worsened with the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine and the building of the Panama Canal. The Roosevelt Corollary essentially stated that if any country begins to intervene in Latin America, the United States would intervene to "protect" them. Both the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine and the Panama Canal caused Latin America to think America was trying to influence and strangle them- further hurt foreign relations.
Conservation of the environment was undoubtedly Teddy's most lasting outcome of his presidency. Before his time in office Congress had already succeeded in passing a series of acts protecting nature. The first was the Desert Land Act of 1877, followed by the Forest Reserve Act and Carey Act. These acts were successful in irrigating soil and setting aside land for forests and national parks. However, during his administration the Newlands Act of 1902 was passed and numerous dams were built across nearly every western river of significance. Teddy also accomplished reserving 125 acres of land for forests, and even more astonishing is his rescuing of forty-six million acres of land from being cut down. His efforts did not go unnoticed with the establishment of several national parks and monuments including the Petrified Forest National Park and the Grand Canyon Memorial.
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt had many things accomplished during his presidency. While he was not the best in foreign affairs, he proved to help the masses domestically. The policies he established for the United States were positive, and his effects are still felt today. Due to his aid in expansion of the federal government, conservation of the environment, development of the panama canal, regulation of large corporations, and expansion of the armed forces, he deserves a solid "A" as his grade for his terms in office.
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, Thomas Andrew Bailey, and Thomas Andrew Bailey.The American Pageant: a History of the Republic. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. Print.
October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919
Terms in office: September 14, 1901 - March 4, 1909
Political Party: Republican
Vice Presidents: Charles Fairbanks (1905-1909)
Theodore Roosevelt was the twenty-sixth president of the United States, and first became president under unusual circumstances. Originally, he was the Vice-President to William McKinley, until McKinley was assassinated in 1901. Roosevelt immediately took an oath into office on September fourteenth of 1901; becoming the youngest president ever at forty-two. Theodore Roosevelt, nicknamed "Teddy," is most well-known for his "big stick" policy, conservative views, image on Mount Rushmore, and cowboy-like appearance. He knew how to appeal to the masses and believed the president should take whatever action necessary for the population unless forbidden by law or the constitution. Due to Roosevelt's role in expanding the federal government, conservation of the environment, development of the panama canal, regulation of large corporations, and expansion of the armed forces, he deserves a solid "A" as his grade for his terms in office.
While in presidency, Roosevelt's main goals included conserving the environment, and modernizing, expanding, and reforming the government. His ideas included representing the masses: farmers, laborers, and businessmen. Teddy wanted to regulate trusts and railroads, develop a canal across Central America,and conserve natural resources as much as possible. All of his main goals were accomplished up to a certain extent, and were accomplished benevolently, with the exception of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt represented "the people" by regulating trusts. Not only did he force railroad companies in the Northwest to break apart, but he also brought large corporations under regulation. He used the Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890 to his advantage and had forty anti-trust lawsuits under his name. However, one must not get confused, Roosevelt only sought to regulate large businesses, not dissolve them; in fact, he actually supported business. After the Spanish-American War, the need for a canal across South America was brought to Teddy's attention. Once Panama had been decided as the place of choice, the only problem was that Panama was controlled by Cuba- who was unwilling to part with the land unless given a hefty price. About a year and a half later Panamanians revolted against Cubans gaining their freedom and the U.S. quickly moved in to build the canal. While the canal was heavily beneficial, parts of Latin America looked down upon America claiming they "raped" Panama from Cuba. Roosevelt's largest goal was his role in conserving the environment. He passed several acts defending the environment and within eight years established an astonishing five national parks, and sixteen national monuments.
The relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and Congress was a rather good one; however, at times Congress felt that Roosevelt was attempting to put too much power into the executive branch. Teddy's interest in regulating the railroads caused some conflict in Congress when Roosevelt attempted to pass the Hepburn Act, proposing the enhancement of power in the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC). By passing the Hepburn Act, it would allow the ICC to regulate the costs on shipping in railroads. Parts of congress attempted to use judicial review to make the ICC ineffective. When word got back to Roosevelt, he made a direct repeal by taking this issue to the people, and thus pressured the Senate into approving the act. In the end, the Hepburn Act aided in achieving Teddy's goal of regulating trusts and railroads. Congress and Roosevelt did agree though in passing acts relating to the food industry including the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act.
Teddy Roosevelt's ability to handle and balance domestic and foreign affairs was his most positive trait and therefore, his most positive outcome. Domestically Theodore was able to establish the Bureau of Corporations, essentially watching any businesses engaged in interstate commerce; and relating the the bureau passed the Hepburn Act of 1906, which restricted bribery among the railroad corporations. He also accomplished two significant acts relating to the health of America including the Pure Food and Drug Act, preventing the mislabeling of foods and the Meat Inspection Act, which is rather self-explanatory but caused the inspection of the meat packing industry to make sure they met certain health codes. The most well known however, is perhaps the "Square Deal." It consisted of the "three C's": control of the corporations, consumer protection, and conservation of the Earth's natural resources. These domestic policies were accomplished all while Roosevelt was also handling foreign affairs. During the 1904 war between Japan and Russia, the two countries were fighting over land in Manchuria. Roosevelt acted as an arbitrator and concluded that the Japanese would receive no indemnity for any wartime losses and would also receive southern Sakhalin, an island off the coast of China. For his settlement of dispute between the two countries, Teddy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906.
Roosevelt's role in foreign issues was also a negative aspect of his presidency. Although the Russia-Japan war was positive in the United States, it was negative in both Russia and Japan. Originally, Japan wanted payment for wartime losses, and once Roosevelt settled on giving them no indemnities, the Japanese became angered. Japan felt that America had robbed them of their compensation for the war. Russia then felt that America robbed them of a military victory and as a result, American foreign relations dwindled. Relations with other countries also worsened with the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine and the building of the Panama Canal. The Roosevelt Corollary essentially stated that if any country begins to intervene in Latin America, the United States would intervene to "protect" them. Both the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine and the Panama Canal caused Latin America to think America was trying to influence and strangle them- further hurt foreign relations.
Conservation of the environment was undoubtedly Teddy's most lasting outcome of his presidency. Before his time in office Congress had already succeeded in passing a series of acts protecting nature. The first was the Desert Land Act of 1877, followed by the Forest Reserve Act and Carey Act. These acts were successful in irrigating soil and setting aside land for forests and national parks. However, during his administration the Newlands Act of 1902 was passed and numerous dams were built across nearly every western river of significance. Teddy also accomplished reserving 125 acres of land for forests, and even more astonishing is his rescuing of forty-six million acres of land from being cut down. His efforts did not go unnoticed with the establishment of several national parks and monuments including the Petrified Forest National Park and the Grand Canyon Memorial.
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt had many things accomplished during his presidency. While he was not the best in foreign affairs, he proved to help the masses domestically. The policies he established for the United States were positive, and his effects are still felt today. Due to his aid in expansion of the federal government, conservation of the environment, development of the panama canal, regulation of large corporations, and expansion of the armed forces, he deserves a solid "A" as his grade for his terms in office.
Works Cited
"History: Theodore Roosevelt: Presidential Accomplishments." U.S. National Park Service - Experience Your America. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. <http://www.nps.gov/history/logcabin/html/tr3.html>.
Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, Thomas Andrew Bailey, and Thomas Andrew Bailey.The American Pageant: a History of the Republic. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. Print.
"Theodore Roosevelt and Conservation." United States History. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h937.html>.
"Theodore Roosevelt." The White House. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/theodoreroosevelt>.
"Trust-Busting." Novelguide: Free Study Guides, Free Book Summaries, Free Book Notes, & More. Web. 22 Apr. 2010. <http://www.novelguide.com/a/discover/eueh_02/eueh_02_00966.html>.